As online sports betting continues to evolve, gamblers are always looking for exciting and new ways to elevate their wagering experience while aiming to increase their bankrolls significantly. One such betting market that is increasingly becoming popular among punters is shots on target.

Offered by many leading sportsbooks, this thrilling and relatively new shots on target betting market allows gamblers to wager on the total number of shots aimed at a goal during a game. It can be by individual players or a team as a whole.

Have you been losing money on other sports betting markets, especially in football? And do you want to boost your chances of winning and maximising your sports betting profits? Betting on shots on target could be the key to a profitable betting journey.

This guide is designed to answer any questions you may have about the shots on target betting market. You’ll discover how to use it to your advantage. Also, you’ll learn how to identify teams and players with high numbers of shots on target, a strong conversion rate, and more.

Key Highlights:

• Definition: A shot on target is a shot that goes into the net or would have without a save by the goalkeeper or last defender. Shots off the crossbar/post or blocked by non-last defenders don’t count.
• Betting Options:
  • Player-Based: Bet on the number of shots on target by specific players. Includes over/under, the exact number, by half, headed shots, or from outside the area.
  • Team-Based: Bet on total shots on target by teams in a match, by half, or overall.
• Top Teams for Shots on Target:
  • Leading teams in Europe include Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal (EPL); Bayern Munchen, Bayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga); Napoli, Inter (Serie A); and Real Madrid, Barcelona (La Liga).
• Betting Tips:
  • Track player and team form, shot frequency, and conditions like weather and home advantage.
  • Consider factors like team tactics, defense strength, and fatigue.
  • Use data and statistical analysis to inform your bets, but remember there’s no guarantee of success.

Shots on Target Betting Explained

According to leading football betting sites, where this market is popular, a shot on target is any intended shot that goes into the net.

It is also a shot that would have found its way into the net but was stopped by the last defender or the goalkeeper. Any shot that hits the crossbar or the post doesn’t count as a shot on target.

Also, a shot that is blocked by a defender who isn’t the last man doesn’t count. This is because it would be challenging or impossible to tell if it would be on target. A shot taken in an offside situation doesn’t count. But this varies from one sportsbook to another.

Some bookies accept an offside shot as a shot on target, but only when the match official decides to play advantage instead of giving a free kick to the opposition.

Another confusion originates from corners. If a corner is taken and the ball goes into the goal directly without any other player coming into contact with it, that is a shot in target. However, if the goalkeeper touches the ball around the goal and saves it, it isn’t considered as a short on target.

Shots on Target Market Options

Many betting platforms offer many shot-based betting options within the shots-on-target market. These betting options include the following:

Total Player Shots on Target

The first and most popular market is to back a specific player to have a given number of shots on target. Top-rated betting sites will provide various options, including:

• A player is to have at least one shot on target.
• A player to have over/under shots on target: it can be over/under 2.5, 3.5, and so on.

Games involving creative and highly scoring players like Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Man City’s Erling Haaland may have higher options to pick from. Some betting platforms may have the option to make a specific prediction. 

For instance, Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins or Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez to have exactly five, four, three, or two shots on target. Your bet will be settled based on the number of shots on target each of your players of selection registers. Additional player-based shots on target bets include:

• Exact shots: Exactly how many shots on target a player will have.
• 1^st half shots: This wager concerns whether a player will have over/under a given number of shots on target in the first 45 minutes.
• 2^nd half shots: This is similar to the 1^st half shots but in the second half.
• Shots in both halves: Back a player to have a certain number of shots on target in both halves.
• Headed shots: Only shots on target by headcount.
• Shots from outside the area: Shots that a player registers from outside the penalty area. For this market, only pick players that have good shots from a range, like Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne and Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Total Team Shots on Target

In addition to the above total player shots on target markets, the best sportsbooks offer a host of markets that relate to teams. They include:

• Total shots by half: The total shots on target for the competing teams but just for the first or second half.
• Total match shots: How many shots will the game have in total?
• Team shots by half: The total number of shots on target a single team will have in the first or second half.
• Team total shots on target: Number of shots a given team will have in a game. It is usually based on over/under x. However, you’ll sometimes find specific totals or bands offered.

Teams with the Highest Shots on Target in Europe

Various teams in top European leagues have registered the highest number of shots on target. That means their top attacking players are also among the leading in terms of shots on target. 

These teams have recorded the highest number across the past three campaigns as well as the current season, meaning they’ll remain among the favourites to place bets on in the future.

This season, these teams have already recorded the following shots on target and continue to add more to their tally.

• EPL: Liverpool 235, Manchester City 229 and Arsenal 206.
• Bundesliga: FC Bayern Munich 582, Bayer 04 Leverkusen 545, and RB Leipzig 483.
• Seria A: Napoli 546, Inter 504, and Milan 456.
• Laliga: Real Madrid 208, Barcelona 182, and Atletico De Madrid 165.

Shots on Target Betting Tips

In terms of betting your money on shots on target, it’s vital to keep in mind that no market is a surefire guarantee, even when you’re armed with the best tips and advice. But with some expert-proven tips, you can increase your chances of winning. Some of these tips in terms of shots on target include:

• Pay attention to the shots on target a team or player takes during a match. Consider both the quantity and quality of the shots taken. A higher number indicates an advanced level of accuracy and confidence. Also, consider where the shots are being taken from to determine your bet type.
• Take into account all elements that can affect a player’s or team’s shots on target. These elements include a team’s defensive strength, fatigue levels, weather conditions, team performance away and at home, and home team advantage.
• Monitor the player’s and team’s form when it comes to shots on target.
• Keep up-to-date with any changes like tactics employed by a team to elevate your chances of placing successful bets. Statistical analysis and data can help you inform your betting decisions.

With these tips, you can easily identify valuable opportunities and make more data-driven shots on target wagers. Remember that this market is highly rewarding if you get everything right, from picking the best bookmaker and researching to utilising some expert-proven tips.